Dr Hazel Mubako A Jamaican African Zimbabwe Connection

Dr. Hazel Barbara Mubako nee Christie known by the pet name Peggy was born in Rosetta District, St. D’Acre, located in The Dry Harbour Mountains of, St. Ann Jamaica West Indies, to Caroline nee Gooden and David Christie. In her early years she attended the Charlton Primary School in Alexandria St. Ann, and later joined the first batch of girls at the Holmwood Technical High School in 1961. At Holmwood she was a sports enthusiast earning several medals in athletics. Hazel was an avid reader, a gardener, and she enjoyed sewing and cooking much of which was taught by her mother.

She migrated to England in 1966 and studied as a registered nurse at the Dreadnought Seamens Hospital. She met her husband Ambassador Simbi Mubako in 1968, while he was studying law at the London School of Economics, and they were united in marriage in 1970.

In the next year she migrated to Zambia to join her husband who became a lecturer in Laws at the University of Zambia. Hazel registered for a science degree and graduated with honors. In 1976 the couple moved to the University Of Southampton, England, where Hazel was to study medicine while her husband was teaching Law at the same University. By that time she was a mother of three children. Despite her family responsibilities she managed to qualify as doctor in record time.

In 1980 the couple moved to Zimbabwe where her husband was appointed a cabinet minister by President Robert Mugabe as the country attained its independence, and he served as a minister for ten years assuming several different positions including Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Minister of Home Affairs. He also served as judge of the High Court. Dr. Simbi Mubako was appointed Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United States by President Robert Mugabe in 1999. The Mubako’s then moved temporarily to the United States in 1999 and Dr. Hazel was a United Nations examining physician as she served with her husband during his five year tenure as ambassador.

She devoted her later years to fighting AIDS and worked at the Crisis Center with patients affected by HIV, women in crisis, and rape victims. Dr Hazel is well known as “Mother and Doctor” to many.

Dr. Hazel Barbara Mubako lost her battle to breast cancer on the May 27, 2013, at Westend Hospital in Harare Zimbabwe. She was 65. Dr Hazel was laid to rest at Glen Forest National Park Zimbabwe. Her funeral service was well represented by the Vice-President and several government ministers, members of the United Nations, colleagues in the medical fraternity, several of her former patients, members of the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriot Front (ZANU-PF), family and several friends. Messages of support also came from many other institutions including, the local West Indian Community; Ambassadors and staff of Zimbabwe Embassies in Russia, Sweden, South Sudan and Belgium; Vice Chancellor and Law faculty, Midlands State University; and Harare international Festival of Arts (HIFA).

She is survived by her husband, Professor- Justice Dr. Simbi Mubako, three sons Takawira, Pfumo, Pepukai and a daughter Revai, grand children, brothers, sisters other relatives and friends. Dr. Hazel Mubako, an African born in Jamaica, like many others, made a link with the continent from which the ancestors came leaving an indelible mark. It is best said in the words of acting Vice President Joyce Mujuru,”the country shared the grief with the Mubako family as Dr. Hazel Mubako contributed immensely to the development of the medical sector in the country”. We honour her memory and the importance of the portrayal of a positive linkage, image and thoughts of Africa by Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and the World.